Connecting the Dots: Health Reform and More

Last month, Van Jones, the author of The Green Collar Economy and new "green" advisor to the White House, gave a powerful lecture for the launch of our new Whole Systems
Healing initiative. He did a terrific job of connecting the dots and explaining
how green jobs (renewable energy) are a way to improve health, the economy, and
the environment. We cannot solve big challenges like global climate change by
thinking in silos. We need to connect the dots and see how interrelated the
choices we make really are.

When it comes to health reform, a systems thinking approach
is essential. I just returned from Europe, where I met with colleagues from Germany, Ireland,
and England.
We discussed health reform initiatives in our respective countries. One trend that
stood out to all of us was the evolving role of consumers. People are demanding
choices and a more active role in determining/managing their healthcare
experiences. The British handbook of the National Health Service (NHS)
Constitution, for example, explains patients' rights; advises them to take
personal responsibility for their health and well-being; follows the course of
treatment to which they have agreed; and provides the system with positive and
negative feedback about their healthcare experience.

The focus on keeping people healthy and improving ways in
which we manage disease is certainly at the forefront of U.S. health reform deliberations. I
had the honor of testifying in February at a Committee hearing of the U.S. Senateentitled Integrative Health: Pathway to Health Reform. I spoke about the need
to shift our system from one that focuses primarily on disease to one that
emphasizes wellness and health promotion. Watch the hearing.

I also presented at the Institute of
Medicine (IOM) Summit
on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public about the need to expand use
of integrative therapies and healing practices as well as the roles of nurse
practitioners, Naturopathic physicians, Traditional Chinese Medicine
practitioners, chiropractors, massage therapists, and other providers. In each
of these settings, I was proud to refer listeners to this Taking Charge of Your Health website. Read about the summit.

In partnership with Life Science Foundation, we created this
website to give consumers information and tools that would enable them to more
effectively navigate the health system, explore integrative therapies, and
develop a personal plan for health and well-being. When we launched the site
three years ago, health reform discussions were not focused on consumer
empowerment or the importance of personal responsibility to any great extent. What
a difference a few years can make!

We've re-launched a new version of the site
this month, adding lots of interactivity and new features such as the Conditions
section, where we explain how integrative therapies can work effectively in
conjunction with conventional medicine. The new website is far more user-friendly
and you can easily create a personal plan for your own health and well-being.

I hope that you find the website to be a useful tool
when you "connect the dots" and take charge of your own health.
I also encourage you stay abreast of the health reform conversations occurring
on local, state and national levels. There is much at stake and we all need to
contribute bold, creative ideas for change!